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Today I have a post brought to you by Nick from Mela Mela Vintage, which will especially appeal to those of us in the southern hemisphere easing (eeeeasssing) our way into warmer weather. I used to be an avid follower of "runway trends", always interested in what styles stores would be trying to convince us to buy in a few months time (and then work out how I could find and wear them in a much more economical way.) I must confess I'm pretty clueless about the trends these days, so it is interesting to see just what will be "in" this summer, and how you can adapt these styles to suit your vintage style!

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With the Summer upon
us, it’s time to start thinking about our warmer weather wardrobe. We’ve picked
out some of London’s hottest vintage Summer trends that will see you through
the months to come.

1. Low heels

For Spring/Summer
2014 your shoes need to be flats, low heels or chunky platforms.Low strappy heels are a Summer essential,
they add femininity to any outfit and work well with skirts as well as cropped,
tailored trousers or shorts.Pick some
strappy low-heeled sandals in a metallic shade for extra kudos and style
points, and an all round versatile Summer shoe.

These gold leather
strappy sling backs by Stylo are the ultimate Summer shoe, and being original
1950’s wear; they are achingly on trend.

2. 1950’s dresses

1950’s style
dresses are massive Spring/Summer style must haves items.Emilia Wickstead featured them heavily in her
SS14 shows.Opt for debutant style
dresses with full skirts and a flirtatious 1950’s style silhouette.The skirt must reach to below the knee, and
you ideally want to choose single coloured silks or satins.

This 1950’s vintage dress from Mela Mela in burgundy satin is just the ticket.I love how the cream embroidery lifts the
depth of the satin.The fitted bodice
and full skirt are beautifully feminine, and are the perfect 1950’s shape for
the Summer ahead.

3. Block colours

Block colours are
huge right now after Ralph Lauren went crazy over them in their runway
shows.Opt for 1980’s style power
dressing, or simple yet striking monochromes.Vibrant contrasting colours will really set each other off and make a
powerful fashion statement, while monochromes will look classic and
sophisticated.

This 1950s shift
is a stunning statement dress that is bang on trend for Spring/Summer
2014.The shot silk really illuminates
the dress, and the figure-hugging style is a flattering and alluring cut for
the Summer months.

4. 1930s and 1940s trench coats

As seen on the
runways of Dries Van Noten and Carven, the trench is the way forward.Trench coats are worn open, and loosely
belted.It is far more about being
draped in fabric that staying warm or layering up.Opt for trench coats in jewel shades or tones
of grey, rather than dull browns.Belted
dresses are a beautiful way to wear this style as day wear.

This 1940’s coat
from bottle green gabardine is the perfect Spring/Summer coat for cool evening
walks along the beach or statement wear.

5.Florals

Florals are always
big news in the warmer months, and every year designers think of new and fresh
ways to re-introduce them.Going vintage
with your florals is the perfect solution, as vintage clothing lends itself
perfectly to flowery motifs.The big
colours this season are icy pastels, pinks and orange.So why not pick a vintage floral frock that includes
these colour-schemes to be sure to really rock the current floral trend.

This 1980s taffeta
floral dress not only includes the perfect colour palette and a striking floral
design, it is also a gorgeous tulip shape that will really make you stand out
from the crowd.The off-the-shoulder
neckline adds a sexy allure to the feminine prettiness of the layered skirt and
flowery print.Wear it with low sandals
or ballet pumps in soft pastels shades.

This article on
London’s vintage summer trends was written my Nick Williams at Mela Mela
Vintage. Mela Mela Vintage changes their stock seasonally, so now is a great
time to find that vintage coat or jacket.

My new neighbourhood is so lovely. These photos were taken at the park by the river near our house, while we looked for branches to take home for our bird cage.
I'm so excited to be able to have picnics here once the sun is out a bit more and I have more free time!

I know I've already talked about how much I love winter, and I do, but this time of year is always so exciting - spring is here!

I tend to get a wee bit sick of the cold by the last month of winter and find myself daydreaming of warmer weather, floaty dresses and picnics with friends.

This year I'm determined to actually get my wardrobe sorted in advance, before the hot hot weather sets in, though I say this every year so who knows if I'll actually stick to it… That said I've made a bit of a start with this pretty dress I made - the fabric is a marvellous find from the op shop around the corner from my house that I knew what I'd do with as soon as I saw it. I used the same pattern as I did for my yellow flower dress (Simplicity 2539). I actually made it exactly to the pattern size that I have this time, which is for a 31 1/2 inch bust, despite my 34 inch bust since last time I made it a little bigger and it just ended up too roomy.. this time it is actually quite fitted (which I prefer). Just goes to show that ease is as much an issue in vintage patterns as it is in modern ones!